Glioblastoma Treatment in Germany

Glioblastoma is one of the forms of brain tumor. This variety is considered the most aggressive, but with timely detection, it successfully responds to therapy. Trust cancer treatment to German specialists. According to international rankings, German clinics have recorded the highest percentage of favorable outcomes in cancer therapy — 75%. The corresponding figure for Israel is 72%.

Problem of Glioblastoma Treatment

Glioblastoma is a tumor that forms from glial cells of the brain (astrocytes). The cause of its development is a spontaneous mutation. Due to a failure in the genetic code, cells change their structure, lose their original functions and begin to divide uncontrollably. As a result, compactions appear that rapidly increase in volume.

The body is powerless against neoplasms. The immune system does not recognize abnormal cells as foreign and does not suppress their growth. The tumor affects the brain and is most often localized in the temporal or frontal lobes. Metastases (secondary foci) outside the nervous system are usually not detected.

There are two paths of glioblastoma development:

• degeneration of an initially benign neoplasm — characteristic of children;
• initial formation of a malignant tumor — typical for patients of the older age group.

Before starting glioblastoma treatment, it is important to determine its type. There are three forms that differ in tumor structure:

1. Multiform glioblastoma. This is the most common type of pathology. The tumor grows quickly and is well supplied with blood.
2. Giant cell glioblastoma. The cells of such a tumor are large. They have not one, but several nuclei. It is diagnosed in 1% of cases, but successfully responds to therapy.
3. Gliosarcoma. This is a form of tumor with a sarcomatous component. Not only astrocytes, but also mesenchymal elements undergo changes.

There is no single cause for the development of a malignant tumor in the brain. According to statistics, the pathology is diagnosed in men 1.6 times more often than in women. Risk factors include:

• age over 64 years;
• exposure to ionizing radiation;
• toxic effects of chemicals;
• burdened heredity;
• presence of a primary glial tumor — astrocytoma;
• infection with oncogenic viruses.

It has been proven that previous craniocerebral injuries, prolonged smoking, and regular smartphone use do not affect the development of malignant neoplasms in the brain.

Glioblastoma Symptoms

It is impossible to assume the presence of a malignant tumor only by the clinical picture, since the symptoms are always individual. Signs of the presence of a neoplasm may also indicate other pathologies, which is why complete diagnostics is extremely important.

The following symptoms will be a reason for an unscheduled examination:

• headache;
• dizziness;
• weakness;
• impaired coordination of movements;
• nausea/vomiting — predominantly in the morning;
• visual disturbances;
• memory deterioration;
• epileptic seizures.

Early diagnosis is a chance for successful treatment, but many patients ignore symptoms, attributing poor health to stress, fatigue, or vitamin deficiency. At the same time, the condition may episodically improve, but internal changes do not stop. Brain cells are destroyed, tissues swell. Blood supply is disrupted, so the tumor may be mistakenly taken for a stroke.

Diagnostic Methods

The initial stage of glioblastoma treatment in Germany is the assessment of the patient's condition and collection of anamnesis. Specialists study all available test results and images upon admission. Then additional examinations are prescribed. The entire diagnostic process is carried out in a short time, since saving time is one of the factors that increase the chances of a favorable outcome.

To clarify the diagnosis in Germany, modern highly informative instrumental methods are used:

• magnetic resonance imaging;
• positron emission tomography;
• computed tomography.

A biopsy with subsequent histological examination is mandatory, as well as a series of laboratory tests to assess the patient's general condition.

Treatment of Malignant Neoplasms

The tactics of glioblastoma treatment in Germany are always chosen individually for each patient. The degree of brain damage, the patient's age, and the general condition of the body are taken into account. The task of German specialists is to eliminate atypical cells while preserving healthy tissues. In German clinics, preference is given to conservative treatment methods. If this approach is not possible, surgical tumor removal is performed.

Radical surgical treatment is the only way to remove large malignant neoplasms. Clinics in Germany are equipped with modern equipment that allows complete or partial tumor removal. To clearly localize its boundaries, the method of fluorescent detection of atypical cells is used. The patient takes a solution of a special reagent — 5-aminolevulinic acid, thanks to which the contours of the tumor become clear, and healthy tissues are not affected during the intervention.

Such surgical intervention is possible but is used only in exceptional cases when it is proven that other methods will not be as effective. Before and after the operation, the patient receives drugs that inhibit the growth of atypical cells. As concomitant treatment, a course of radiation therapy may be prescribed.

In the early stages of glioblastoma development in Germany, conservative treatment with antitumor drugs is carried out. The drugs are administered intravenously. Their active substances reach the genome of the altered cells and disrupt the process of their division. As a result, the tumor decreases in size or is completely eliminated.

Chemotherapy has its disadvantages. Most drugs also affect healthy tissues, which significantly worsens well-being. Muscle pain, vomiting attacks, hair loss, and poor appetite are possible. Specialists at German clinics make every effort to ensure that patients feel comfortable. When side effects appear, medications are prescribed to reduce their intensity.

German protocols use not only standard drugs but also experimental medications. This allows increasing the effectiveness of treatment and increasing the frequency of favorable outcomes of conservative therapy.

Germany is one of the countries where preference is given to innovative methods rather than traditional excision. Thus, methods of stereotactic radiosurgery are used to remove malignant neoplasms in the brain. Doctors use the Cyberknife — a special system that allows removing neoplasms without opening the skull. Tumor cells are destroyed under the influence of radiation.

The method differs from standard radiation therapy, as the energy is directed by a robot manipulator from a huge number of positions. This allows targeted action on atypical cells and their complete elimination.

Advantages of using Cyberknife:

• completely painless;
• no long rehabilitation period;
• fast treatment — depending on the tumor volume, 1-5 sessions are required;
• possibility of outpatient treatment without hospitalization;
• minimal risks of complications;
• effectiveness in detecting inoperable tumors.

Patients have access not only to the Cyberknife installation but also to other innovative methods of treating malignant neoplasms. German clinics practice:

• genetic engineering — isolation of the genome of affected cells with subsequent replacement of mutated sections and reintroduction into the patient's body;
• immunotherapy — activation of own antibodies to recognize and suppress uncontrolled division of cancer cells;
• nuclear medicine — an alternative to standard radiation therapy, involving targeted irradiation of neoplasms with radioactive isotopes;
• photodynamic therapy — use of photosensitive substances that accumulate in the tumor, with subsequent laser irradiation.

Treatment is provided by qualified oncologists. Operations are performed by surgeons and radiosurgeons of the highest category. All specialists possess modern methods of diagnosis and treatment of oncological diseases and regularly improve their competencies.

Therapy Cost

Prices for glioblastoma treatment in Germany vary depending on the chosen clinic and program. The cost is influenced by:

• stage of the disease and tumor size;
• necessary diagnostic procedures;
• length of hospital stay;
• rehabilitation program after treatment.

The treatment price is always known in advance. The patient sends all available test results and medical conclusions for review, after which they receive an offer from the German clinic — a diagnosis and treatment plan with a preliminary cost calculation for all procedures. Then it remains to agree on the departure date, sign the contract, and pay the estimate.

Choosing the Best Clinic in Germany

Glioblastoma treatment in German clinics means:

• new methods that are not yet available in other countries;
• review of existing conclusions and clarifying diagnostics in the shortest possible time;
• preparation of a treatment plan by a council of doctors — a team of oncologists, surgeons, radiologists;
• minimal risk of complications during the recovery period;
• high chances of success even in complex cases of brain damage.

The patient's task is to prepare conclusions, extracts, and tune in for success. Trust the choice of the clinic to our company. Managers will select a medical center and doctor based on your complaints and wishes. We will provide the necessary assistance at any stage of treatment up to discharge.

German Oncologists Union

German Oncologists Union Oncology Clinics

📍Germany

OncoUnion Clinics

OncoUnion offers a full range of services for the diagnosis and treatment of malignant oncological diseases, in accordance with international medical standards.

Oncological

European CyberKnife Center

9.9/10 from 59 reviews

📍Max-Lebsche-Platz 31, 81377 München, Germany

Europäisches Cyberknife Zentrum München

The European "CyberKnife" Medical Center specializes in the treatment of malignant and benign tumors. Here the Cyberknife device has been implemented and successfully used - a progressive device for non-surgical treatment of oncology.